Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town

"Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town" by Cory Doctorow is a modern novel centered around Alan, who renovates a rundown house in Toronto, contemplates his past, and expresses his longing to be an author. As Alan throws himself into fixing up this house, he starts weaving himself into the fabric of the neighborhood with his new neighbors, Nat, Link, and Krishna. The story introduces fantastical elements via his rather odd family, like his metaphorical brothers, all while maintaining a relatable tone. Alan's story gracefully combines the ordinary with the extraordinary, touching on themes of identity, connection, and the search for the extraordinary in the everyday.